NEWS: ‘Marathon Monday’ Newest Twist for Disney Marathon

[jedimaster1227]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/06/marathon-monday-newest-twist-for-disney-marathon/

 

Anyone who runs 26.2 miles deserves something in return, right? I mean, besides a lot of aching muscles. Well, we think we’ve come up with the perfect reward for marathon runners.

 

If you run the Walt Disney World Marathon next year, you’ll get a day at Walt Disney World on the house. Yep, runners who collect their finisher medals from the marathon on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, can bring them back to Disney the next day and gain entrance at no charge into a Walt Disney World theme park on “Marathon Monday.’’

 

Marathon runners and fans can also have a say in what that Disney Marathon finisher medal looks like. Just go to http://www.disneyworldmarathon.com and vote for the medal you think Disney should award runners at next year’s Disney Marathon. Voting runs now through July 28 with the winning medal announced in early August.

 

Hey, if you sign up and vote now, you’ll still have plenty of time to train for the race. On your marks…get set…go!

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=disneyparks_356_2y62[/coastertube] http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/its-all-about-the-medals/

 

One of the cool things about running marathons and half marathons at Disney are the unique medals that you get. They all have a style all their own and are like badges of honor for those courageous enough to run all those miles.

 

Check out this medal from the very first Walt Disney World Marathon, as well as several from past endurance events at Disney. Which one is your favorite?

 

We know how special medals are to the many runners who’ve competed in Disney events and that’s why we’re cooking up something new this year as a special treat to runners. Oh, I can’t give away it now, but stay tuned to this blog and we’ll have a special announcement about it sooner than you think.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Honestly, I don't get this. I'm assuming that most people who are running the marathon already have park tickets. Orlando doesn't have the local population of say Disneyland and I think a LOT of people travel for this Marathon. I know of at least 20 people who do. Giving them a park ticket doesn't really do much IMO. I could be wrong though.

 

I do like the idea of being able to design the medal though.

 

It's kind of like the thing they are doing with the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Pasta Party which includes a ticket to DCA for it the night before. Again, I'm assuming that most people running the race will have already secured their tickets to the park or will be using an AP.

 

I'm still debating if I will be doing the WDW marathon in January.

[mcjaco]

What's not to get?

 

You run the race and get a free day. That's a chunk of change off one of the passes you'd have to buy for the additional day. Not to mention the race admitance fee.

 

I'm pretty sure there's a good number of locals that run this race, as well, as the 1/2 and the 5K that weekend (Goofy Challenge). Sounds like a no brainer to me.

[moinab]

I was wondering about the motivation behind this, as well, Gregg. In fact, I was just discussing this with my husband at lunch, today.

 

My initial reaction was, "they should have been doing this all along." Even though I have a FL resident pass, I still felt like I should have been able to get into the park for free, for the day, with my finisher's medal, after completing the Princess 1/2 Marathon.

 

But then, I wondered, "why now?" It's not like they need to attract more people to the marathon - they already sell out all of their races.

 

I'm guessing a lot of the people who run the marathon don't actually have park passes, and this is a way to entice them into staying an extra night in the resorts (rather than mass exodus, after the race,) and then spending more money in the parks and restaurants - "if we keep them here, they will spend!"

 

I'm tempted by the Goofy Challenge, but the $310 registration fee, plus added travel costs, is just too much. For a total of $205 in registration fees, I can run in the Tri-2B-Tuff Challenge (Jax Marine Corps 1/2, Outback Distance Classic 1/2, and Jacksonville Bank Marathon,) plus the 26.2 with Donna, which are all local for me.

 

I'm also wondering if this will cause them to jack up the registration fee even higher, for 2012.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Having never done one of the WDW events, I'm just guessing that most people that run don't stay on site and you are right, this is a way to get them to stay on-site that night and spend the next day in the park.

 

Maybe I'm wrong in assuming that most people who are local would have some kind of AP and that most people who travel for this would get park hoppers or have an AP. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

It's kind of interesting that they are doing this for the day after the race and not the day of though. Then again, most people wouldn't want to spend a day in the parks after running 26.2 miles. Me, I would TOTALLY want to do it and show off my medal.

 

As for the goofy, I have a friend who did it this year and is doing it again next year. He wants me to run it with him but considering I haven't done my first 1/2 yet (it will be the Disneyland 1/2 in September) I'm just not sure I will be ready for that next year. If I do go to run the WDW one it will just be the full probably and then will do the Goofy the following year. Not sure.

[moinab]

I'm not exactly local to WDW (175 miles away,) but I know a lot of people around here who just run the WDW Marathon and then come home.

 

I stayed off-site for the Princess 1/2, but I think I would probably stay onsite, if I did the Marathon Weekend races. I've heard a lot of nightmares about missing the start of the race, after sitting in traffic for 90 minutes.

 

For me, walking around the parks with my medal was the best part of running at WDW! I had friends who came from TX and CO, and they wore their medals to the parks for the next few days.

 

Ideally, I'd love to try the Goofy in 2012, but we may actually be making a temporary move to SoCal, the end of 2011, so I guess I'll have to wait a few years.

[nay]

But then, I wondered, "why now?" It's not like they need to attract more people to the marathon - they already sell out all of their races.

 

I've noticed that this year, the races aren't selling out as quickly as they have in the past, which could be why they've added this incentive. I remember when the Goofy Challenge used to sell out in less than a month! They've expanded the number of participants and raised the prices - It's really getting out of hand! I do plan on doing the Goofy Challenge once again, but haven't registered yet and don't plan on doing so until they start posting that it is close to selling out.

 

I already have an AP, but I think this is a good idea. The WDW resorts do sell out over marathon weekend, yet the crowds in the parks remain fairly light. It's always entertaining to see people limping around the parks a day or two after the races are over.

 

One of the smaller WDW races, the Expedition Everest Challenge, is coming up this month, and a one-day park ticket is included in the registration fee. I wish they would make that offer optional, because AP holders don't need it and it makes registration more expensive.

 

BTW, if you're considering doing the Goofy Challenge, it's totally worth it, but be prepared for a lot of pain!!

[moinab]

I'll be running my first 26.2 (Jax Bank) in December, so I don't feel I'll be ready for the Goofy Challenge in 2011.

 

I'm planning on running 1/2 marathons in October and November, and full marathons in December and February, so the temptation to run one of the WDW races in January is huge. I go back and forth on this, all the time. I still may cave in and register. One OT shift would pay for the whole weekend!

 

Do you feel the WDW Marathon and/or 1/2 is getting uncontrollably big? I'm very intimidated by the huge races.

[Sir Clinksalot]

I haven't run any big races yet, the 10k I did in April only had like 85 people. So the Disneyland 1/2 will be a totally new animal for me.

 

But from people I know that have been running the Disneyland and WDW races, they say that they do a REALLY good job of spreading everybody out.

[moinab]

I just looked up the 2010 results for the WDW Marathon, and there were just under 17,000 finishers. Do they cap registrations at 20,000? I couldn't find that info (although I didn't look too hard. )

 

It makes sense, that the parks would be on the empty side for race weekend. I would expect that a lot of people would try to avoid that weekend, due to the road closures, traffic issues, and booked hotels. I never really thought of it, from that perspective.

[robbalvey]

Hey, I'll take whatever free days at the park they'll offer! It's one less day I have to use on my 10-day no-expiration pass!

 

--Robb

[dandaman]

Nay's got this one locked in.

[moinab]

Hey, I'll take whatever free days at the park they'll offer! It's one less day I have to use on my 10-day no-expiration pass!

 

--Robb

 

Are you going to run the marathon for your birthday, Robb?

 

Team TPR!

[jedimaster1227]

^I'd be a cheerleader for Team TPR... I just would be sitting out thanks to some knee problems that prevent prolonged running (or activity of any sort). But I've also got an annual pass, so admission isn't a problem.

[nay]

Do you feel the WDW Marathon and/or 1/2 is getting uncontrollably big?

 

I want to say that there were at least 50,000 participants this past January for all of the races. I did find some narrow sections of the road a bit crowded, but it wasn't too unbearable. The wave starts keep things pretty well organized, too. It's usually the packet pickup at the Wide World of Sports that is a huge headache with the crowds for me.

[krazekiddd]

^I still think we should try a TPR team at one of these events. I'm only up to 4.5 miles now, but I'm sure I will eventually get there. Plus, I think I'd have more incentive to do a TPR Team Disney Marathon.

[nay]

^Totally!! Colin and I are doing the Expedition Everest Challenge next weekend with the team name Team TPR.

 

And for people who aren't up to doing either the half or full marathons, there is always the 5k fun run!

[krazekiddd]

^I have the info saved for the 2011 Races. I'd probably only do the half and the 5k, but I really really want to do it!

[TheStig]

^Totally!! Colin and I are doing the Expedition Everest Challenge next weekend with the team name Team TPR.

 

And for people who aren't up to doing either the half or full marathons, there is always the 5k fun run!

 

Goooo Team TPR!

 

And for the record I didn't walk for a week after doing Goofy Challenge, I personally would not be able to do a day at the parks after that!

[doom1001]

My AP expires January 3rd,If I run the marathon,finish it and somehow make it out of bed on Monday,can I renew my AP with a one day credit for the marathon finishers.I've been telling myself to get in shape and run the Disney marathon for two years now,maybe this will get me to run it in January.

[Ryne23s]

I am going to do it for my 3rd (and final) time next year. The knees just can't take it any more.

 

Robb - you in?

[moinab]

Damn you all! You're going to talk me into registering!